Roy Keane took aim at Amad Diallo following Manchester United’s 3-2 win over Nottingham Forest, accusing the forward of getting shoved off the ball ‘like a child’ for Morato’s second-half goal.
Luke Shaw’s well-taken strike got United off to a dream start in only the fifth minute, but Morato headed home Elliot Anderson’s pinpoint cross to make it all square shortly after half-time at Old Trafford.
Matheus Cunha’s restored the hosts’ advantage just moments later, with the referee Michael Salisbury going with his initial decision despite being sent to the screen by VAR Matthew Donohue for a possible handball.
United further increased the deficit in the 76th minute as captain Bruno Fernandes assisted Bryan Mbeumo to equal the all-time Premier League record for a single season, going level with Kevin De Bruyne and Thierry Henry.
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Forest responded through Morgan Gibbs-White to set up up a nervy finish at the Theatre of Dreams, but Michael Carrick’s men held firm to ensure they will finish the Premier League campaign in third place.
The Red Devils will look to pick up where they left off on the final day of the season when they lock horns with Brighton at the Amex Stadium.
Dissecting the mach in the Sky Sports studio shortly after the final whistle, Keane broke down the contest as a combination of ‘really good attacking play’ and ‘really poor defending’ from both teams.
The former United captain was particularly unimpressed by Amad’s defending in the build-up to Morato’s header in the 53rd minute.
‘Fantastic, absolutely amazing from Elliot Anderson,’ Keane said.
‘Really poor from United here. Amad Diallo, like a child, getting knocked off the ball.
‘But once Anderson gets it on the half turn and he looks around, you’re thinking [it’s bad news for United]. As soon as it leaves his foot you know United are in trouble.
‘Morato in the six-yard box, just needs to get good contact on it.’
Keane then turned his attentions to Gibbs-White’s goal to make it 3-2, blasting Carrick’s players for failing to ‘make a decision’ despite ‘having bodies back’.
‘We saw some really good attacking play but also some really poor defending again from United,’ he explained.
‘They have the bodies back but nobody actually making a decision.
‘Lovely finish from Gibbs-White, sharp and crisp. Very good.’
Gary Neville was left stunned by the decision to award Cunha’s goal, branding the call ‘ridiculous’ on Sky Sports’ commentary of the clash.
We’re confused ourselves, especially when the referee gets asked to go and look at the screen,’ Keane said of the decision.
‘To give it… ex-footballers will all be saying the same: it’s handball. And I don’t think anyone would have complained about it.
‘But the referee has made the decision and hey, it’s a lovely finish.
‘Shocking defending from Forest again, not clearing their lines, but a beautiful finish from Cunha, even though we were all scratching our heads when it was allowed.’
Keane applauded Mbeumo for managing to pick himself up from squandered a huge chance to score what proved to be the decisive goal with 14 minutes remaining on the clock.
‘I admire strikers who keep at it and this is a brilliant finish. This is the one he probably needed, an instinctive finish,’ he added.
‘He didn’t want time to think too much but it’s a lovely finish and a very good delivery.’
Should Cunha’s goal have been disallowed?
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Yes
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No
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